Updates on the cultural activities of the state's Irish American community.

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Saturday, November 4, 2017

Thomas J. Butler Memorial Park Opens in South Boston

Massport recently joined local elected officials, friends and family of Tom Butler to officially unveil the Thomas J. Butler Memorial Park in South Boston.

Joining Massport CEO Tom Glynn at the event were Governor Charlie Baker, Congressman Stephen Lynch, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, state Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, state Representative Nick Collins, City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Bill Linehan and other local officials, as well as former officials like Ray Flynn, Bill Bulger and Jack Hart.

The park is named to honor Tom Butler of South Boston, who was beloved in his neighborhood for his many decades of community service and charitable deeds to the town. As Director of External Relations for Massport, Butler was also a well-respected public official who helped mitigate effects of Logan International Airport, Conley Terminal and Cruiseport Boston for the residents who lived nearby those facilities.

"My father acted as a buffer for the community he served in his capacity at Massport," said his son Tom Butler, Jr. at the ceremony. "If your team need baseball uniforms, or your kid needed a summer job, or if you were under the (airport) flight path...you could call my dad. His true passion was helping people on a personal level."

The park is also part of Massport's Thomas Butler Freight Corridor, a .6 mile roadway which was built to keep 400-500 container trucks off East First Street and portions of Summer Street in South Boston.

The 4.5 acre park contains a path for runners and walkers, trees and flowers, seating and lighting, bike racks and a separately enclosed dog park. It is part of Massport's initiative for open spaces.